First Chapter Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, August 1Ready to enjoy some fajitas to kick off the 2018 volleyball season? Then, please attend the first ACV meeting of the season on Wednesday, August 1. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. with the buffet line starting at 6:15 p.m. Please be sure to RSVP to this event via Arbiter by Thursday, July 26 so that we can get an accurate meal count. The meeting will be held at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. The business portion of the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings.

Member RewardsThe member rewards will be available at the Kick-Off meeting on August 1st. If you are unable to attend, you will need to make other arrangements to pick up your items. The best option would be to contact another member who will be at the meeting and let your At-Large Rep know in advance who will be picking up your item. After the meeting, the items not collected will be with the appropriate At-Large Rep.

TASO Conflict of Interest PolicyAt this year’s State meeting, Mike Fitch stressed that all officials should read the TASO Conflict of Interest Policy. It can be found on the TASO website: http://www.taso.org/taso-policies. In fact, Mr. Fitch further added, “You cannot be a Facebook friend with a coach and also officiate for that coach. That is a conflict of interest.” Each official is responsible for knowing and following the policy. If you have conflicts of interest, you should be blocking the school on Arbiter. If you have questions about the policy, please contact TASO directly. It would not hurt to read the Social Media Policy as well. Speaking of social media, TASO now has a Facebook page.

TASO Test Now Open!Officials must complete both the TASO Rules Test and a Rules Clinic prior to officiating a match. The test is a mandatory TASO requirement and cannot be waived for any reason. It is not required to complete the clinic prior to taking the test. You must make at least a 90 on the test in order to be eligible for Varsity level matches and playoffs. You can have 5 attempts to do so.

Online Registration for TASO Regional Volleyball Clinics Now AvailableIf you plan to attend a Regional Clinic, the nearest one will be held in San Antonio on Sunday, July 29. Remember that the fee for the rules clinic was included in your TASO membership registration. Nevertheless, you must pre-register for the clinic in advance or you will be charged $10 for registering as a walk up at the clinic. Deadline is Thursday, July 26. TASO sent information on the On-Line Clinic in an email dated July 25.

Important Message from Assigning SecretaryRule books are now available. Bonnie Caddell will have a limited number of rules books at the San Antonio clinic for those who plan to attend. Please contact Janiece Nelson to pick up your books or she will have them available at the August 1st meeting. Janiece is busy scheduling matches/tournaments. Please note that none will be published until after August 1st. In the meantime, you can see pending matches by going to the calendar in Arbiter under the block column.

Communication – Very ImportantEach official has a responsibility to communicate with the Assigning Secretary and their At-Large Representatives for any scheduling or meeting/training conflicts. Please be conscientious in responding to emails.

More WebEx Training AvailableNeed a refresher on line-up cards, scorekeeping, and libero tracking before the season begins? You are in luck. Please mark your calendar for the following dates:· Scorekeeping & Libero Tracking on Thursday, August 2 at 7:00 p.m.· Line-Up Cards WebEx on Sunday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m.Login information can be accessed via the website calendar. These training sessions are not a mandatory requirement.

September 5 ACV Chapter Meeting to be Held via WebExThe September 5 chapter meeting will be held via WebEx. The event will be posted on Arbiter along with the necessary login information. Login information can also be accessed via the ACV website calendar. The due date for the first round of assigning fees is also September 5.

Remember someone is always watching you and possibly videoing you! Act and be professional. Comments at the State Meeting from Mike Fitch about professionalism.

2018 Volleyball Season Is Drawing Near!With the 4th of July behind us, the back-to-school ads are a clear indication that the 2018 volleyball season is almost upon us. Officials now only have four weeks to get ready before the start of the season. During that time span, there are many requirements that have to be met before we can get on the court. A few are mentioned in this newsletter. Please review the checklist of requirements; it is the first selection under “Member” on the ACV website. If you have questions, please be sure to contact your at-large representative.

TASO Test Completion RequiredOfficials must complete the TASO Rules Test prior to officiating a match. The test is a mandatory TASO requirement and cannot be waived for any reason. The test is scheduled to be available in mid-July. No schedules will be posted until after the TASO test completions have been updated and the first August meeting has been held. Officials can see within the Arbiter calendar whether they have a match as indicated in blue on the blocks calendar.

Reminder about TASO Rules Clinic RequirementAll officials are required to attend a TASO rules clinic. This can be done in three ways: (1) attend the TASO State Meeting scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland; (2) attend a TASO Regional Clinic; OR (3) plan on taking the rules clinic online (not available until mid-July).

Online Registration for TASO Regional Volleyball Clinics Now AvailablePlease read the email from TASO dated July 5. It contains important information as well as registration links for those officials planning on attending a Regional Clinic. The nearest one will be held in San Antonio on Sunday, July 29. Remember that the fee for the rules clinic was included in your TASO membership registration. Nevertheless, you must pre-register for the clinic in advance or you will be charged $10 for registering as a walk up at the clinic.

Important Message from Assigning SecretaryPlease take time to read the email dated June 30 regarding important scrimmage information. Please note that officials can self-assign scrimmages; however, that option will close on Friday, July 27. Some locations will also have scrimmages on Monday, August 6. All officials are required to do a minimum of three hours. On another note, the number of Varsity tournaments has declined this season. We are currently down three Varsity tournaments (Hays, Brentwood, NBCA). This will result in less tournaments for officials to work.

Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx MeetingsThe last At-Large Representative WebEx meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 16. The host is Christle Miersma (O-Z) and the training component will be most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test. If you have not attended one, this is your last chance to do so. This is a mandatory requirement for this season.

Returning Members Training (Advanced Level)As a reminder, all returning members are required to attend at least one returning members training. The advanced-level training is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 at Pflugerville High School at 7:00 p.m. Please make plans to attend especially if you did not attend the intermediate training offered on June 16.

WebEx Trainings ContinueThe dates for the three remaining WebEx training sessions are as follows:· Tuesday, July 17 at 7:00 p.m. – Match Night Procedures· Sunday, July 22 at 7:00 p.m. – TASO Rules Test Prep· Sunday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. – Line-Up Card TrainingThese sessions are good training opportunities to freshen up your skills before the season begins. However, they are not a mandatory requirement.

First Chapter Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, August 1The 2018 volleyball season kicks off with the first chapter meeting of the season. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at the Austin Police Association Union Hall, located at 5817 Wilcab Drive in Austin. To celebrate the beginning of the season, a fajita dinner will be offered. Please be sure to RSVP to this event via Arbiter when it becomes available so that we can get an accurate count. Everyone who attends will be included in door prize drawings.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, July 11, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting in order to obtain the necessary participant information.

Check your uniform, especially black pants, belts, socks, and tennis shoes! Is it time for new ones? Remember to clean your whistles!

Happy Father’s Day!To all of the gentlemen in the Austin Chapter Volleyball, have a very Happy Father’s Day.

Deadline for Returning Member Reward is Monday, June 11Great news for returning members! Hopefully you took the time to read the email from Kevin Carlyle dated May 21. If you did not, then you are missing out on an opportunity to claim a $30 reward to be used towards uniform (including jackets or sweatshirts) or equipment. This reward is designed to help members and the chapter maintain their professional appearance through upgrades of apparel or equipment. Don’t delay, the deadline is Monday, June 11. New members (those who have NEVER officiated with TASO in the sport of volleyball) are eligible for a $50 reimbursement and can use this form as well.**Please note that for the shirts, men’s sizing will be used unless “women’s” is indicated on the form. **Please note that for the shirts, pockets are the standard. If you prefer a shirt with no pockets, please write “no pockets” on the form.

Important Message from Assigning SecretaryAll availability sheets were due to Janiece Nelson by Friday, June 1st, allowing her now to begin scheduling volleyball assignments. For those missing necessary requirements, Janiece will begin sending individual emails. If you receive one of these emails, it is important to act immediately. As previously announced, officials with missing requirements will be marked as inactive in Arbiter. If you are marked inactive in Arbiter, that means you will need to contact Janiece and get requirements met before regaining Arbiter access.

Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx MeetingsIf you did not have an opportunity to participate in the first At-Large Representative WebEx meeting, please note the dates of the remaining two being offered:· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or please feel free to attend all of them for extra training. Please continue to reference the ACV calendar on the website.

WebEx Housekeeping GuidelinesPlease take time to mute your phone or PC after joining the meeting. Please turn off the video. While it is nice to see smiling faces, WebEx will run smoother if the bandwidth is concentrated on the actual presentation. If you do not see your face on display by your name, then the video camera is off. When you have a question or a concern for the presenters, please raise your hand by clicking on the hand icon. The presenters will recognize you. It is important for you to unmute yourself before speaking.

Returning Members Training (Intermediate Level)As a reminder, all returning members are required to attend at least one returning members training. The intermediate-level training is scheduled for Saturday, June 16 at Akins High School from 10:00 a.m. till noon. Another training (advanced level) will be available on Thursday, July 19 at Pflugerville High School.

Please Review Mileage GuideIn case you have not seen the news, we will be on a new flat fee mileage system starting this year based on UIL rules. We have created a mileage guide for you to use and believe we have it all correct. Please help us to ensure it is correct by reviewing it now, particularly for the schools with which you are most familiar. Note that the mileage is based on actual driving distance and NOT the previous mileage rings. Please contact Kevin Carlyle with any corrections.

TASO State Meeting Registration OpenThe TASO State Meeting registration is now open. Remember that the fee for the meeting was included in your TASO membership registration. However, you still need to register if you plan on attending the TASO State meeting, scheduled for Saturday, July 14 at the Curtis Culwell Center.

Self-Evaluation of Level DescriptionsPlease take time to review the four level descriptions on the ACV website. This is a good opportunity to conduct a self-evaluation of your strengths and what you have achieved. It can also be used as a measure of what areas you want to improve on this season.

Website Administrator Needed for Future EnhancementA future enhancement for the Austin Chapter Volleyball website, www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/, involves allowing officials to fill out their application online in addition to paying their dues online. If you have an interest in being involved in this project, please contact Kevin Carlyle. This will be a win-win for everyone if we can get this completed.

New Member OrientationApproximately 30 individuals attended the first two orientations. Therefore, we have decided to conduct another orientation. It will be held via WebEx on Sunday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m. So, if you know of anyone who is interested, please send their name and email address to Roni Downey. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, June 13, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.

Countdown to the 2018 Volleyball SeasonThe beginning of the 2018 volleyball season is now less than three months away. There are many items to check off of the “to-do” list before scrimmages begin on August 3 & 4. To facilitate this, a checklist is now available on the ACV website: http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/2018-membership-requirements-checklist/ for your convenience. It is accessible under “Members” and is titled, “2018 Membership Requirements Checklist”. Please take time to keep up to date on what is required. If you have any questions, please contact your at-large representative.

One Remaining WebEx Test Opportunity As announced in the last newsletter, the ACV board recently purchased a license to use WebEx, which is a video and web conferencing software system. An email was sent in late April inviting members to do a test run of WebEx. If you have not had a chance to test Web-Ex, you have one more opportunity to do so. On Monday, May 7, a WebEx test will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Please plan accordingly so as to be prepared for when the actual sessions take place. Also note that it is helpful to download the WebEx app for IOS and Android devices prior to attempting to log into WebEx.

Mandatory At-Large Representative WebEx MeetingsOn Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m., the first of three At-Large Representative meetings will take place, hosted by Teresa Fierro and Christle Miersma. Libero tracking will be the training component at this meeting. While this one is designated for those officials whose last names begin with the letters A-G, any official can participate. All three At-Large Representatives will be participating in these meetings. Please note the dates of the other two At-Large Representative meetings being offered in subsequent months:· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or please feel free to attend all of them for extra training.

Change of Format for Returning Member TrainingTwo returning member training sessions will be offered in the summer. Unlike past years, these two will differ in content. The first one being offered on Saturday, June 16 will be an intermediate-level training. Location is still to be determined. The second one being offered on Thursday, July 19, at Pflugerville High School will be an advanced-level training. In addition, some of our senior officials will assist with conducting the training. All returning members are required to attend at least one returning member training.

2018 Chapter Meetings SetPlease mark your calendar for the 2018 Chapter Meetings, which will continue to be held on Wednesdays. A few changes have been made for this year’s meetings. Two will be held at the Austin Police Union Hall (same place as last year) and dinner will be provided. The other two will be held via WebEx. In addition, the start time will be at 7:00 p.m. The Chapter meeting requirement for 2018 is attendance of at least two of your choice.

Recommended Meeting Attendance for Returning MembersWhile members can meet their meeting attendance requirements in a variety of ways, the recommendation of the board is attendance at one At-Large Rep meeting, both Returning member sessions, and the August and November meetings at the Austin Police Union Hall.

2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule Now Available on WebsiteThe 2018 Match Assigning Fees Schedule is now available on the Austin Volleyball Officials website. It is located under “Members/Members Information/Assigning Information. Please note that the assigning fees will remain the same as last year’s. Please pay close attention to the due dates. Remember that assigning fees will be considered late and the member assessed a $10 late fee if the fees are not paid within 10 days of the invoice being generated in Arbiter.

Message from Assigning SecretaryThe 2018 Availability Form is due by Friday, June 1. Remember to update Arbiter to match the hard copy of the availability form. Don't forget to mark yourself “READY” on the left side of your profile when you have completed Arbiter and have sent your form to Janiece Nelson.

Other WebEx Training Sessions Being OfferedWith the ease of using WebEx, the ACV training team is offering extra WebEx training sessions to help members improve their officiating skills. While these are primarily geared towards members with less experience, it does not hurt for experienced officials to use these as a refresher. Even though these three training sessions listed below do NOT count toward your meeting attendance requirement, they are excellent opportunities for additional learning/refreshing.

New Member OrientationsKudos to those of you who have sent the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey. The first orientation was held on Monday, April 30. Approximately 15 individuals attended. The next orientation session is set for Saturday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hampton Inn in Buda. All new officials must attend one orientation. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. It will be held at Poke-E-Jo’s Smokehouse, located at 2121 W. Parmer Lane. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting.

2018 Volleyball Season Kicks off First Week of AugustScrimmages for the 2018 volleyball season will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4. As per Section F of the Stated Policies, “all members are expected to attend a minimum of three (3) hours of scrimmages.” Arrangements should be made with the Chapter Trainer, Christle Miersma, no later than May 1st if a member is unable to meet this requirement. Be sure to also notify the Assigning Secretary, Janiece Nelson, and your At-Large Representative.

Spring/Summer Leagues to Begin SoonPlease note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to officiate spring/summer league matches as well as attend any summer training sessions or meetings. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed with both TASO and ACV. Please note the following spring/summer leagues with the assigners included in parenthesis: Del Valle (Bob Block), Georgetown (Gilbert Mokry), Hutto (Gilbert Mokry) San Marcos (Bonnie Caddell), Taylor (Janiece Nelson with matches being played in Rockdale and Jarrell). The ACV Board approved these assigners at the April 4 board meeting. Please contact these individuals for more information on these leagues if you are interested.

New Member OrientationsRemember that spring/summer leagues are also used to train new officials. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey so they can be assigned to train during this time. You can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. All new officials must attend one orientation. Orientation dates are set for the following dates and times: Monday, April 30: Austin Sports Center in Cedar Park at 7:00 p.m.Saturday, May 19: Hampton Inn in Buda at 10:00 a.m.

2018 ACV Calendar Now Available on WebsiteThe 2018 ACV Calendar is now available on the Austin Volleyball Officials website. It is located under the heading of “Members” and is the first option listed, “ACV Calendar”. Please be sure to mark your calendar with these important dates. http://www.austinvolleyballofficials.com/acv-calendar/ You can also add the calendar to your Google calendar so that you have all of the important events noted. For your convenience, a PDF color-coded version of the calendar is available on the website as well. Please note that the “A” and “B” Returning Training meetings will have differing subject matter this year – members might want to attend both to further their officiating education.

2018 TASO and ACV RequirementsIn addition to being registered for both TASO and ACV, please note the following mandatory requirements:TASO Requirements: Prior to working a match, members must attend 1 Rules Clinic and complete the TASO Rules Test. Officials not in compliance will not be allowed to work any matches.ACV Requirements: Must attend 5 Total Meetings consisting of 1 Returning Member Training, 2 Chapter Meetings, 1 At-Large Representative Meeting, and 1 other meeting of your choice.

What is WebEx? The ACV board recently purchased a license to use WebEx, which is a video and web conferencing software system. At present, the ACV board is using it to hold board meetings. It allows members to attend a meeting in the comfort of your home, an added plus considering all of the traffic and construction encountered in getting from one area of town to another. Due to the success the board has had with WebEx, we would like to offer this same opportunity to officials, by offering the at-large representative meetings as a type of webinar, allowing officials to attend, learn, and ask questions from the comfort of home. The ACV board will offer a couple of “test runs” to familiarize yourself with WebEx in late April and early May. Test dates will be sent out soon and you are encouraged to take advantage of these tests so as to be prepared for when the actual meetings take place.

At-Large Representative Meetings SetPlease make plans to attend one out of the three At-Large Representative WebEx Meetings being offered. Attendance at one of these is a meeting attendance requirement for 2018. In addition to providing general information about the 2018 season, each meeting will have a training component focused on a particular topic, as seen within the parenthesis. Please note that you do not have to attend the meeting of your assigned at-large representative, which corresponds with the first letter of your last name as shown in parenthesis following the host name. You are welcome to attend the one that best fits your schedule and the training session that you feel will benefit you the most, or feel free to attend all of them for extra training.· Monday, May 21: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Teresa Fierro (A-G) and Christle Miersma (Libero tracking)· Wednesday, June 6: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Hosts Chez Slayton (H-N) and Christle Miersma (Scorekeeping)· Monday, July 16: At Large Representative WebEx Meeting – Host Christle Miersma (O-Z) (Most missed test questions from the 2017 TASO Rules Test)

Message from Assigning SecretaryArbiter is now ready for you to input your availability, blocks, and travel limits. As noted in the letter sent by Janiece, there are many upgrades and standardization of sites, so if you have a question, please feel free to contact her. The letter indicated a welcome email would be sent since Arbiter had done a tremendous amount of upgrading. Please read the letter included with the availability closely, complete your availability, and return it to Janiece by June 1st. Take notice there is an optional page 2! Don't forget to mark yourself “READY” on the left side of your profile when you have completed Arbiter and have sent your form to Janiece.

Registration Now Open for TASO State Annual Meeting TASO sent an email announcement that registration is now being accepted for those who desire to attend the 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting, which will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that when you registered with TASO, you already prepaid to attend a State or Regional clinic. Nevertheless, you still need to register. At this time, registration for the Regional Clinics is still not available. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to host a Regional Clinic will be San Antonio, which is scheduled for Sunday, July 29. Other Regional Clinic locations and dates are listed on the TASO website as well as on the 2018 ACV Calendar. Please note that TASO designates the locations for these clinics. Taking the On-Line Clinic is also an option.

Professional Association of Volleyball Officials (PAVO)For those individuals who are interested in calling lines at collegiate matches, please visit www.pavo.org. Current information is available on membership, costs, and upcoming clinics/meetings.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 2018. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting.

Update to Special Olympic VolunteersKudos to the following individuals who officiated at the Special Olympics volleyball matches: Bob Block, Nika Borge, Teresa Fierro, Jason Goltz, Ronnie Kaase, Larry Smith, and John Stadnick. Thank you for representing the ACV at this year’s events.

TASO Registration Early Renewal Deadline ApproachingAs a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is this Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25.

Registration Now Open for TASO State Annual Meeting TASO sent an email announcement that registration is now being accepted for those who desire to attend the 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting, which will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that when you registered with TASO, you already prepaid to attend a State or Regional clinic. Nevertheless, you still need to register. At this time, registration for the Regional Clinics is still not available. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to host a Regional Clinic will be San Antonio, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 29. Taking the On-Line Clinic is also an option.

Message from Assigning SecretaryIt is not too soon to begin taking a look at your availability for the coming season. Janiece Nelson is asking that availability sheets be submitted by Friday, June 1. The 2018 availability sheet will be available on the website by the end of March. Availability sheets will be of upmost importance with the changing to Metro mileage.

CondolencesSome of you may already be aware, but Gloria’s father, George Westrom, passed away recently. I am not aware of any local memorials that will be held. The family has asked that donations be made to Maggie's Hospice, 306 N. Virginia St., Prescott, AZ 86301. Please keep Gloria and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

2018 Austin Chapter Dues Please note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to attend any summer training sessions or meetings as well as officiate at any summer league matches. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed. For those of you who have not submitted the required Austin Chapter paperwork, the reinstatement fee is now in place. The cost is $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.

2018 ACV Calendar Available in MarchThe 2018 ACV calendar will be available before the end of March. Information on a training schedule will also be provided. More details will be forthcoming.

Recruitment Referral BonusNew officials are vital to covering matches during the season, especially at the middle-school level. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey to allow new officials plenty of preparation time to get started in August.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 4, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important for this meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.

Summer League AssignersTASO insurance has coverage included for those who assign officials for our summer league matches. For that coverage to be in effect, you must be an approved assigner by the Chapter. The board will make formal approvals at the April board meeting. Please submit your name to Kevin if you will be assigning officials this summer.

Kudos to Special Olympic VolunteersThank you to those individuals who volunteered to officiate volleyball matches at this year’s Special Olympics. In case you were not aware, one of the local news stations showed a clip of a Special Olympics volleyball match, in which At-Large Representative, Teresa Fierro, was officiating.

TASO Registration Early Renewal Deadline ApproachingAs a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25. If you did not receive the TASO announcement, please contact TASO at volleyball@taso.org.

Message from Assigning SecretaryJaniece Nelson will begin sending email notifications to those returning members who are not current in registering for TASO and/or ACV. Please note that you must be registered with both TASO and ACV before you are able to attend any summer training sessions or meetings as well as officiate at any summer league matches. Therefore, please do not delay in getting your registration completed.

2018 Austin Chapter Dues Thank you to those individuals who have submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as the chapter dues. For those of you who have not submitted the required paperwork, the reinstatement fee is now in place. The cost is now $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.

Reminder About TASO State Annual Meeting The 2018 TASO Volleyball Annual Meeting will be held in Garland, Texas on Saturday, July 14. Please note that Austin will not host a Regional Clinic this year. Instead, the nearest location to have a Regional Clinic will be in San Antonio. More information will be forthcoming.

Treasurer’s Report Available on ArbiterThe ACV Treasurer’s Report for the month of January is now available under the Forms section of Arbiter. As mentioned in an earlier email from the President, this will now be the standard practice to provide transparency of ACV finances. Please feel free to review and submit any questions to Bonnie Caddell or Kevin Carlyle.

Ancillary Positions Congratulations to Ian Evins on his appointment for the 2018 volleyball season. Ian will continue to serve the Austin Chapter as the Website Administrator.

2018 ACV Calendar SetThe 2018 ACV calendar will be available in the coming weeks. The ACV Trainer is also compiling a training schedule that could be beneficial to returning officials. More details will be available soon.

Recruitment TimeInformation is already being sent out to potential new officials for the 2018 volleyball season. It is not too soon to think about recruiting new officials. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey to allow new officials plenty of preparation time to get started in August.

Survey ResultsSpecial thanks to those individuals who took time to fill out the survey and provide feedback. The results have been compiled and will be sent to the board members for the betterment of the Austin Chapter.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 7, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative at least 24 hours in advance if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important forthis meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.

Happy New Year!The new year is upon us. While it is only January, many of you are possibly already making summer vacation plans. Therefore, please pay close attention to the various important dates and deadlines mentioned in this newsletter.

Sincere Condolences to the Family of Bobby RogersMemorial services were held for Bobby Rogers and his family in Austin, Oklahoma and Alabama. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to assist with travel expenses. On behalf of ACV, $100 was donated to their GoFundMe account. Please keep Bobby and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Ancillary Positions Congratulations to Marilyn Wahl and Christle Miersma on their appointments for the 2018 volleyball season. Marilyn was appointed as the Assistant Assigner while Christle was appointed as the Chapter Trainer.

2018 Austin Chapter Application Deadline ApproachingThank you to those individuals who have submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as the chapter dues. For those of you who have not submitted the required paperwork, please note that the deadline to submit the application without a cost increase is January 31. The renewal dues will be $30 until January 31. Beginning on Thursday, February 1, the cost increases to $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. So please make plans to renew by the January 31 deadline. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.

TASO RegistrationAs a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. TASO sent out the announcement around December 20 with specific instructions. Please note that the payment will be for both the annual renewal as well as for mandatory meeting component (State Meeting, Regional Clinic, on-line clinic). The deadline for early membership renewal is Thursday, March 15, 2018. Registering by that date will save you $25. If you did not receive the TASO announcement, please contact your at-large representative.

Scrimmage Dates SetScrimmages for the 2018 volleyball season will be held on Friday and Saturday, August 3 & 4. As per the Section F of the Stated Policies, “all members are expected to attend a minimum of three (3) hours of scrimmages.” Arrangements should be made with the Chapter Trainer, Christle Miersma, no later than May 1st if a member is unable to meet this requirement. Be sure to also notify your At-Large Representative and the Assigner.

BudgetThe board reviewed the 2018 preliminary budget at the last meeting. The proposed budget estimates, scheduled to be approved at the next board meeting, have been posted to the Forms section in Arbiter. All members are encouraged to review and provide input prior to February 7. Please send any questions or concerns to Bonnie Caddell or Kevin Carlyle.

Recruitment TimeIt is time to begin recruiting for the 2018 volleyball season. ACV needs officials, especially to cover those middle school matches. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Imagine recruiting two new members and having an extra $50 to spend during the holidays! Please send the contact information of potential new members to Roni Downey.

Testing of Teleconference MeetingsWith all of the headaches in dealing with traffic, the ACV board has been testing conferencing software. Initially, this will be used for upcoming board meetings as well as new member training with the possibility of expanding it to chapter meetings in the future. We invite you to help the ACV board test the Cisco WebEx software at our next board meeting. You can do so in the comfort of your own home.

2018 Schedule of ACV Board MeetingsAs mentioned in the last newsletter, the ACV board meetings for 2018 have been scheduled. All fall on Wednesdays: January 10; February 7; March 7; April 4: May 16; June 13; July 11; July 25. Please note that some may be cancelled if there is no pressing business to be discussed.

Next ACV Board MeetingThe next board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2018 and will be held via WebEx. As always, please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending this board meeting. This is particularly important for this meeting so that you can obtain the necessary participant information.

Year-End RecordsACV members should download a copy of their volleyball schedule for the 2017 season by Sunday, December 31. Arbiter will be refreshed some time after the start of the year to prepare for the 2018 season. Once that occurs, the 2017 records will be completely removed from Arbiter.

Outstanding PaymentsPlease take time to review your matches for any outstanding payments. If you have not gotten paid for a match, please contact your co-official first and see if payment was received. Next, contact the school as needed before they leave for the Christmas break. Remember that schools will begin the break starting as soon as this Friday.

Support Paid Positions for the 2018 SeasonACV has three paid positions that are up for renewal each year. These support positions are as follows: (1) Assistant Assigning Secretary; (2) Chapter Trainer(s); and (3) Chapter Website Administrator. The time commitment for each will run from February 1, 2018 through January 31, 2019. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Roni Downey by Sunday, January 7. A job description will be provided to interested individuals in advance. The ACV board will make the selections at the January 2018 board meeting.

2018 Austin Chapter Application Deadline ExtendedThank you to all of those individuals who promptly submitted the 2018 Austin Chapter application as well as their chapter dues. For those of you have not submitted the required paperwork, please note that the deadline to receive scrimmage credit has now passed. However, the deadline to submit the application without a cost increase has been extended to January 31. (The deadline was extended to coincide with the TASO renewal deadline.) The renewal dues will be $30 up to January 31. Beginning on Thursday, February 1, the cost increases to $55 for reinstatement, which includes a $25 late fee added to the $30 renewal dues. So please make plans to renew by the January 31 deadline. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.

Upcoming TASO RegistrationAs a reminder, all returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. This should be tentatively available starting in January. TASO will be sending out an announcement with specific instructions prior to opening registration.

Next Board MeetingThe next board meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Time and place will soon be determined. Kevin Carlyle has also proposed board meeting dates for all of 2018 so that these can be posted on the website in advance. More information on this will be forthcoming. As always, please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending a board meeting.

Happy Holidays!Happy Holiday wishes are extended to you and your loved ones! On behalf of the ACV board, we look forward to seeing all of you in 2018!!

Election Results for Board PositionsPlease welcome these incoming board members, who were elected for a two-year term which starts December 1: President, Kevin Carlyle; At-Large Representative #1, Teresa Fierro; At-Large Representative #3, Christle Miersma. Bonnie Caddell was re-elected to serve as Treasurer. Congratulations to all of these individuals. In addition, please take time to thank the following who have committed time and energy to serving on the board. Best wishes to these outgoing board members: President, Charlie Tamez; At-Large Representative #1, Rhiannon Stracener; At-Large Representative #3, Gilbert Mokry.

Election Results for Changes to ByLaws and Stated PoliciesThe ACV membership chose not to vote on the proposed changes. The ByLaws Committee was requested to use the current ByLaws and Stated Policies as the starting point and then update the proposals off of those documents. At present, older versions of the ByLaws and Stated Policies were being used as the starting point.

2018 Austin Chapter Application Now AvailableThe 2018 Austin Chapter application is now due. Please note that both the application and the dues need to be turned in at the same time. Deadline to receive scrimmage credit when paying dues is Thursday, November 30. Beginning on Friday, December 1, the cost increases to $65 for reinstatement. The 2018 Austin Chapter Application is located at www.austinvolleyballofficials.com. It is listed as one of the menu items. If you have any questions regarding the Austin Chapter Application and/or payment of dues, please contact Bonnie Caddell.

Tentative Calendar for 2018A tentative calendar for 2018 will be included as part of the minutes from the year-end meeting. Minutes should be posted on the website by Thanksgiving Day.

Upcoming TASO RegistrationAll returning members will need to renew their TASO membership online at www.taso.org. This should be tentatively available starting in January. TASO will be sending out an announcement with specific instructions prior to opening registration.

Playoff RequestsThe compilation of the coaches’ playoff requests of preferred officials is now on Arbiter. The document also shows the total number of requests per official. Within Arbiter, click first on Lists, then on Forms. The document is titled 2017 Playoff Preferred Officials.

Door Prize Winners at the Year-End MeetingA few door prizes were given at the year-end meeting. Winners of $10 Jason’s Deli gift cards were Julia Dade, Brandon Kelso, Bob Ruckriegel, and John Smith. Winners of the grand prizes of $25 cash were Ronnie Kaase and Janine Patton.Thanks to everyone who took the time to attend the chapter meetings this season.

A Day of ThanksgivingThank you for being part of the Austin Chapter Volleyball this season. Happy Thanksgiving wishes are extended to you and your loved ones!

Year-End Meeting Scheduled for Wednesday, November 8Wow! The volleyball season flew by. Time has come for our year-end meeting to close out the 2017 season. As a reminder, a BBQ dinner will be served at this meeting. Attention New Members with 3 years or less of experience: A new member meeting will be held starting at 6:00 p.m. to discuss year-end business, review a tentative calendar for 2018, and answer questions.

Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block. To see current nominees, please check the ACV website and click on the banner at the top of the homepage titled, “Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8, 2017”.

Proposed Amendments to ByLawsPlease take time to read the proposed amendments to the ByLaws. These are available both on Arbiter and on the website. As per the President’s recent email, we will be voting on Articles 1-7 as well as the name change to the Stated Policies. For those of you who are unable to attend the meeting, some options are available to you, such as early voting on TASO website, proxy voting, and email voting. Please contact your at-large representative if you have any questionsabout deadlines.

2018 Austin Chapter Application Now AvailableThe 2018 Austin Chapter application is now available on the website. Bonnie Caddell will be at the year-end meeting to begin accepting the application and dues. Please note that both the application and the dues need to be turned in at the same time.

Emails Concerning Scrimmage CreditEmails will be sent by Tuesday, November 7 to inform officials about scrimmage credit and the dues that are owed. If you do not receive an email regarding scrimmage credit, please contact Roni Downey at vdowney1@austin.rr.com or Bonnie Caddell at Wednesday’s meeting. Please remember that the 2018 ACV application must be turned in along with the dues owed.

Message from the Assigning SecretaryAssigning fees have been generated and are available on Arbiter. Please note that fees need to be paid prior to Saturday, November 11 so as to not incur late fees.

Recruitment TimeIt is not too early to begin thinking about recruiting for next year. ACV needs more officials. Just count the number of middle school matches that were worked with only one official. Remember that you can earn a $25 referral bonus if you refer a new ACV member who works a minimum number of matches during the season. Thanks to the following ACV officials who referred a new member for the 2017 season: Michael Butler, Felix Gray, Pete Hoyt, James Mahlen, ChristleMiersma, Janiece Nelson, Phillip Salazar, Debbie Shackelford, and Charlie Tamez,

Tentative Calendar for 2018A tentative calendar for 2018 will be available at the year-end meeting. Please be sure to pick up a copy as you register. For those of you not able to attend the meeting, the information will be included as part of the minutes and posted on the website.

A Salute to Our ACV VeteransSaturday, November 11 is Veterans’ Day. Thank you to the veterans who not only serve in the Austin Chapter but also served to defend the rights that we cherish in the United States of America. Happy Veterans’ Day and thank you for your service.

There are moments when we give freely of our time and contribute our efforts without any reason other than it is the right thing to do. Please take time to applaud the contributions of these ACV members who volunteered their time and talents at a tournament on October 7 benefitting cancer: Larry Friedenberg (lead official), Michael Butler, Daniel Cerroni, Rachel Devillier, Andrew Grantham, Kerry Kurio, Benjamin Maxedon, Brad Molof, and Charlie Tamez. In addition, Janiece Nelson volunteered to officiate a volleyball game at a nursing home earlier this season. Thank you for representing the ACV at these events.

Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8

The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election at the end-of-season chapter meeting on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions and would like to add your name to the nomination list, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block. To see current nominees, please check the ACV website and click on the banner at the top of the homepage titled, “Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8, 2017”.

Proposed Amendments to ByLaws

Please take time to read the proposed amendments to the ByLaws. These are available on Arbiter. Look under the header of “Lists” and then proceed to “Forms”. It is the sixth item listed titled, “ACV By-Law Proposals”.

Review of Scrimmage Hours Worked

Emails have been sent asking officials to verify the number of scrimmage hours worked. If you did not receive an email regarding scrimmage hours, please contact Roni Downey at vdowney1@austin.rr.com as soon as possible. An email regarding scrimmage credit and the dues owed will be sent out the first weekend of November.

2018 Austin Chapter Application Coming Soon

The 2018 Austin Chapter application will be posted to the website soon. Bonnie Caddell will be at the year-end meeting to begin accepting the application and dues. Please note that she will also be able to accept credit card payments this year.

Message from the Assigning Secretary

Playoffs are almost here! Please keep Arbiter up to date. Please check your email and Arbiter several times a day for any updates or new assignments.

RSVP Via Event on Arbiter for BBQ Dinner

The Year-End ACV Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 8. We will be having a catered dinner from PoK-e-Jo’s. If you are planning on attending that meeting, please be sure to RSVP via Arbiter by accepting the event. The ACV board will only be ordering the corresponding number of plates based on who has accepted the event.

Officiating Opportunities with USAV

For those of you who are considering officiating for pay during the upcoming USAV (club) season, there's a referee-for-pay clinic Sunday morning, November 5th, from 8 AM to 10 AM at Austin Sports Center Cedar Park. The address is 1420 Toro Grande Blvd, Cedar Park, 78613. While there are many other local USAV referee clinics being offered, this is the only clinic being offered in the Austin area geared specifically for those who wish to referee for pay. Visit www.lsvolleyball.org and click on the Officials Clinics & Info link to see a list of all the referee and scorer clinics being offered. Click the Paid Ref Tournaments link to review all the information around officiating for pay.

Just like we do for high school and middle school, officials have to join as a member (which includes submitting to a background check) and attend a rules clinic. New officials must make at least an 84 on the test and get rated on at least three sets to get certified. The certification is good for two years although membership must be renewed annually. There are many officials within ACV who are also USAV officials who are a good source of information about the USAV processes. Unlike high school/middle school, the play is normally on weekends with some larger tournaments in the spring covering three days. There are a large number of local (Austin area) tournaments for those officials who do not wish to travel and specifically some local tournaments geared to new officials for them to get experience. One significant difference is that officials register for tournaments they wish to officiate rather than waiting to be assigned. A full list of tournaments through the spring are listed on the region’s website.

Nominations for Upcoming Election on November 8The ACV board positions of President, Treasurer, At-Large Representative #1, and At-Large Representative #3 are up for election at the end-of-season chapter meeting on November 8. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions and would like to add your name to the nomination list, please contact the Election Committee Chair, Bob Block.

Attention: Officials with 3 Years or Less of ServiceAll officials with three years or less of service must attend the new member training scheduled for Wednesday, October 4 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall. The ACV Trainers will conduct a Q&A training session at 6:00 p.m. A brief chapter meeting will occur at 6:30 p.m. The ACV Trainers will then continue with an in-depth training on R2 responsibilities, ball handling, using correct pay sheets, and R1/R2 communication, to name a few. They are currently reviewing specific feedback received thus far this season from coaches and officials to fine-tune this training. Some of the coaches’ feedback may be read at the meeting, withholding names of course. If there are specific situations for which you want clarification, please email Harvey Madrigal and Christle Miersma by Sunday, October 1. This is the best opportunity to get your answers.

October 4 Training MeetingThe October 4 training meeting will be a good opportunity for all officials to fine-tune their mechanics before playoffs begin. This is the time to clarify rules and ensure that you are applying them correctly. For those officials with 4 years-plus experience, the October 4 meeting can also be used as a make-up for missing a mandatory ACV meeting on either August 2 or September 6. As a reminder, officials are required to communicate with their assigned at-large representative in advance if they have a conflict with a meeting. As per the 2017 Chapter Application, “It is my responsibility to explain noncompliance for any mandatory training/chapter meetings prior to the required dates.”

Message from the Assigning Secretary and Rules InterpreterAs per the Assigning Secretary, “We have had several coaches comment that officials are telling the teams that their uniforms are not solid-colored. Then, those same officials are letting the team play but stating that the next official may not let them play.” So, Christle Miersma checked in with Gloria Cox, the Rules Interpreter. This was her response, “As mentioned on a number of occasions, it is not our job to prevent little girls from playing volleyball. That being said, we should have numbers that we can read on the front and the back of the jersey and the libero should be in a contrasting uniform. We do not worry about compliance on the sub-varsity level. If the libero is not in a contrasting uniform, the referee can ask the coach to have the player change uniforms, if possible. If that is not possible and the referee can manage to see the libero, go with it. The referee should make every effort to make sure that the teams have a good experience.”

Keeping Your Cool with Middle SchoolPlease be patient during those middle school matches. We know that the visiting team may arrive late so use the time to read your rule book or talk with your co-official. If you are working a match on your own, remember that you can move the referee stand to be closer to the coaches and the score table. Remember that you may be dealing with “coaches” who have no idea about volleyball or who are officiating for the first time. These coaches may also be coaching both the A and B team, dealing with many young ladies not to mention parents. So, please try to help them out as much as possible within reason.

Pink Whistles in OctoberOctober is breast cancer awareness month. Officials are encouraged to use pink whistles to show support for those battling breast cancer. Also, please keep in your thoughts and prayers those courageously dealing with any type of cancer.

Arbiter UpdatesPlease note that officials will NOT have to fill out a playoff availability form this year. All of that information was included on the Availability Sheet that officials submitted at the beginning of the season. Playoffs begin towards the latter part of October. It is very important for officials to keep Arbiter up to date since the Assigning Secretary will be using this as the primary tool forplayoff assignments. Please take time to revisit your availability to ensure that it reflects what you are able to do.

Assigning FeesThe next set of assigning fees will be generated on October 1. Payments will be due on October 4. With the recent change to the Stated Policies, payment will be considered late if not received or postmarked, by October 11. Please note that members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid.

With the volleyball season underway, we may encounter situations where we question a call. Thequestions might be “Did I apply that rule correctly?” “Did I use the correct signal?” Best way to find theanswer to that question is to read the rule book and case manual. This rules review is aimed at gettingyou to do just that.

Below are areas of concern that coaches, players, and fellow officials have identified as needing to beaddressed. So, please take out those books! Challenge yourself: If you consider yourself an experiencedofficial, see if you can recite verbatim the rule, word for word, and in which chapter it can be found. Ifyou consider yourself a mid-level official, see if you can explain the rule as if you were addressing acoach or player. If you consider yourself a new official, then read the rule and jot down questions youmay still have after reading it. Consult with the ACV trainers or your at-large representative.

Adjacent CourtsA coach approaches you to ask how you plan to deal with adjacent courts regarding the playable area. Whatis your response? Do you say “up to the line between the two courts” or “up to the plane of the adjacentcourt”?.

***Read page 12 to find the answer.

Whistle or Horn to End the Time-OutScenario #1: The horn sounds to end the time-out. Your R2 also blows the whistle after the horn sounds.Do you give the R2 a thumbs-up sign that they did a good job applying this new rule?Scenario #2: During a time-out, both teams are back on the court and ready to play within 30 seconds.The R2 blows the whistle and signals the audio horn to be sounded as well.***Read page 22 and the 2017 Pre-Season Volleyball Guide for clarification.

Unnecessary DelayScenario #1: A player enters the substitution zone and the R2 whistles for substitution. The playerfigures out that she is too early and tries to go back. Do you apply the unnecessary delay or do you offerthe coach a time-out instead?Scenario #2: The wrong player enters into the substitution zone. The coach realizes this and immediatelycalls a time-out. Does the R2 still issue the unnecessary delay?***Read page 40 &amp; 41.

Incorrect ServerThe R1 whistles/beckons for serve and the server realizes it's not their turn. She tosses, drops, and as theR1 signals re-serve, the correct server comes to get the ball and serves within the new five seconds.Everyone was in the proper position at service contact. What do you do?***Read page 40.

The ACV Trainers will be available for a training session on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:00 p.m.at the Austin Police Association Union Hall prior to the ACV Chapter Meeting. Please join them ifyou need any of these clarified or if you have other situations that you would like to discuss.

ARTICLE VIII ADMENDMENTS OF THE STATED POLICIES The Stated Policies of theAustin Chapter may be amended at any regular or called meeting by simple majority of the votescast of members present at the meeting. Notification of the proposed amendments shall havebeen mailed, emailed, or posted on the chapter website and said amendments made available toeach voting member, at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.Amendments to the Stated Policies will take effect immediately upon approval.

CurrentStated Policy under E.4 Assigning Fees:

Invoices will be generated and available in Arbiter according to the schedule listed in the Chapter calendar. It is the member’s responsibility to view their invoices and the balance owed. Assigning fee payments will be considered late and the member assessed a late fee of $10 if the balance is not paid within twenty (20) days of each notification of fees owed. Additionally, members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid. This fee is paid directly to the Assigning Secretary. Uponconclusion of the season, any outstanding assigning fees balances will be assessed anadditional late fee of $10 each month until the balance has been paid.

Proposed Change as Introduced on August 2, 2017 by Janiece Nelson:

Invoices will be generated and available in Arbiter according to the schedule listed in the Chapter calendar. It is the member’s responsibility to view their invoices and the balance owed. Assigning fee payments will be considered late and the member assessed a late fee of $10 if the balance is not paid within ten (10) days of the invoice being generated by Arbiter. Additionally, members who are not current on their fees may have assignments withdrawn until the fees and fines are paid. This fee is paid directly to the Assigning Secretary. Upon conclusion of the season, any outstanding assigning fees balances will be assessed an additional late fee of $10 each month until the balance has been paid.

Arguments for this proposal are as follows:  Allows Assigning Secretary to not schedule delinquent members who have not paid fees;  Allows Assigning Secretary to stay consistent with normal bill paying policies;  Allows to proactively track delinquent fees sooner; possibly collecting the monies from the member instead of having the chapter pay for it.

The vote on this proposed amendment will take place at the Mid-Season Chapter Meetingon Wednesday, September 6. Please note that any approved amendments to the StatedPolicies will take place immediately upon approval.

Hurricane HarveyFirst and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Hurricane Harvey, especially our fellow officials from the coastal areas. Furthermore, area schools may be adjusting schedules so please be patient and flexible if matches change.

Note of AppreciationA special thank you is extended to those of you who completed all of the TASO and ACV requirements up to this point.Technical difficulties with the TASO website created problems for many of you. We appreciated the communication withTASO and board members in order to get this resolved.

Message from the Assigning SecretaryPlease bear with me on assigning. We have had a tremendous number of matches, tournaments, and officials who have had to reschedule or cancel due to Hurricane Harvey. I will get assignments out as soon as possible. Also, please double-check all blocks, travel distances, and zip codes to ensure that, when I do assign you to a match, that you are able to accept it. Arbiter isour chief means of communication. For example, if you do not want to travel outside your home area, do not leave arbiter defaulted to 100 miles. If you cannot leave work till 4:00 p.m., do not leave arbiter open all day. If you need assistance with this, please ask Janiece Nelson for help. More will be discussed at the next chapter meeting.

ACV Chapter Meeting ReminderPlease note that the second mandatory chapter meeting for this season is scheduled for Wednesday, September 6 at the Austin Police Association Union Hall. The ACV Trainers will conduct the training session at 6:00 p.m. with the chapter meeting following at 6:30 p.m. All officials with three years or less of service must attend the training; however, all officials areencouraged to attend.

Proposed Amendment to the Stated PoliciesDuring the September 6 chapter meeting, we will vote on the proposed amendment to the Stated Policies. This will be your opportunity to ask questions or voice any concerns.

School Mileage Key Emphasis on Private Schools Due to questions about mileage for private schools, the school mileage key has been updated on the ACV website with the following information: The Private schools are on a "Metro" mileage plan (identified as TAPPS). When using the metro mileage plan, the determining distance is the distance from the center point(http://www.uiltexas.org/policy/volleyballchaptercenterpoints) of Austin to the school. The location of the official&#39;s home is of no significance. The correct mileage charges for each school are listed. No official should ever charge more than what is listed on the school mileage key.

TASO PolicyAs a reminder, please be sure to familiarize yourself with the TASO Policies that are listed on the TASO website under the “About Us” heading. In that section, you will find documents pertaining to Social Media Policy, Conflict of Interest, Rules Misapplication Policy, National Anthem Position, to name a few. If you have questions about any of these policies, please consult with the District Director, David Plaisance.

Mobile Alerts via ArbiterBrenda Gray commented at the Pre-Season Chapter Meeting that members can sign up for text alerts. For those of you experiencing issues with not receiving notifications from Arbiter about game changes, new games, or being unassigned, this can be another avenue of getting up to- date information. (Please note that, depending on your cell phone plan, you may incur chargesfor text messages. Therefore, please check with your provider.)Following are the instructions:-Log into Arbiter-Look under the headers starting with Main, Schedule, Payments, etc. until you get to the one titled Mobile-Click on Mobile-Scroll down until you see “Alerts”-Within this portion, your email address should be on one line and your cell phone # on the other.-Select what notifications you want in the row for cell phone # by clicking in the box-Click on SAVE.-Next scroll to Phone Numbers and be sure that you have your carrier selected.-If not, select your Carrier, then click on SAVE.

ACV Chapter Meeting ReminderThe volleyball season is upon us. Please remember that the first mandatory chapter meeting for this season is scheduled for this Wednesday. August 2, Wednesday PRE-SEASON ACV CHAPTER MEETING @ Austin Police Association Union Hall @ 6:30 p.m. Training session will start at 6:00 p.m.

ACV Chapter Training SessionThe ACV Trainers will be holding a training session starting at 6:00 p.m. prior to the chapter meeting. While these will be geared towards newer members (those with less than three years of experience), all ACV officials are invited to attend. This month’s training session will focus on pre-match preparations so please attend if you need a refresher.

Communication with At-Large RepresentativesPlease remember to communicate with your assigned at-large representative for questions about ACV requirements. Also, please notify your at-large representative in advance if you have any conflicts with meeting the requirements.

Scrimmages Set for Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5Everyone should have a scrimmage assignment by this point. Please report to the scrimmage leader at the assigned time so that you will receive credit for scrimmage time. TASO uniform is NOT required at scrimmages; however, remember that appearance is your first impression and you are representing the Chapter.

Mandatory TASO Test – Must Be Completed Before Start of SeasonEveryone is required to take the TASO test before being assigned to a match. Please complete the test as soon as possible. You must score a 90 if you would like to be considered for Varsity-level matches.

Message from Assigning Secretary:Please accept your assignments in a timely manner. If you cannot accept an assignment, it is preferable to discuss first with the Assigning Secretary before declining. Assignments are being released approximately 3-4 weeks in advance sonplease keep your schedule on Arbiter up to date. Contact Janiece at jnelsonofhutto@gmail.com if you have any questions.

TASO On-Line ClinicThe TASO website states that the online clinic will open the week after the Regional Clinics are concluded. The last Regional Clinic was held on Saturday, July 29. Information about the on-line clinic should be forthcoming.

The volleyball season kicks off in about four weeks. Please keep your schedule as open as possible for scrimmages to be held on Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5. Please be sure to notify your at-large representative in advance if you have any conflicts with these dates.

Message from Assigning Secretary:

We are very light on daytime scrimmage availability for Friday, August 4. If you can help, it would be greatly appreciated. Scrimmages are now open for self-assignment. The Assigning Secretary will begin filling in open slots on July 28th. Prescheduling of tournaments has begun. If you have not updated your availability on Arbiter and sent the hard copy to Janiece Nelson, then you need to do so ASAP to avoid turnbacks. Please contact Janiece at jnelsonofhutto@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Information on TASO Registration for Regional Clinics

If you will not be attending the State meeting this coming weekend, then please make plans to either attend a Regional Clinic or take the on-line clinic. This is a TASO mandatory requirement. Registration for the Austin Regional Clinic, scheduled for Saturday, July 15, is still open. Please visit TASO to register. The last Regional Clinic is scheduled for Saturday, July 29 in Dallas. Information about the on-line clinic is not yet available.

Mandatory Returning Member Training – Set for Saturday, July 15

All returning members are required to attend a returning member training. The final one is set for Saturday, July 15 at Brentwood Christian School beginning at 1:30 p.m. If you attended the first returning member training on Thursday, June 8, then you do NOT need to attend the one on July 15. Please contact your at-large representative if you have any questions about this training.

Mandatory TASO Test

Everyone is required to take the TASO test before being assigned to a match. The TASO test usually becomes available on the TASO website after the State meeting concludes. Expect an announcement to be sent out soon.

ACV Chapter Meetings Starting Soon

As per the Operating Procedures – Texas Association of Sports Officials – Volleyball Division, Section 3.2G states, “Each chapter shall hold a minimum of five (5) meetings per season for education and business purposes.” ACV counts the Returning Member training and the ACV annual test as separate meetings for a total of two. Therefore, please mark your calendars for the remaining three mandatory meeting dates:

As per the Operating Procedures – Texas Association of Sports Officials – Volleyball Division, Section 8.3.2 states, “A member in good standing is one who has complied with all of the membership requirements at the state and local level.” ACV requires members to sign in at each of the meetings, especially those deemed mandatory. ACV will keep track of member attendance in order to be in compliance with TASO.

ACV Chapter Training Sessions

The ACV Trainers will be holding training sessions starting at 6:00 p.m. prior to the start of each chapter meeting. While these will be geared towards newer members (those with less than three years of experience), all ACV officials are invited to attend. In addition, one chapter meeting will be devoted entirely to a mid-season training session:

10/4, Wed. NEW MEMBER MEETING @ Austin Police Association Union Hall @ 6:30 pm (Returning members may also attend this meeting, especially those unable to attend the mid-season chapter meeting.)

Vendor Update

TASO assigned vendors to specific regional clinics this year. Stripe Plus has been assigned to be at the Austin Regional Clinic on Saturday, July 15. Another vendor, Official Sports, has extended an offer to our chapter. Orders placed through officialsports.net can use the code “FREESHIP” to waive the shipping cost. Only one per customer is allowed.

To all of the gentlemen of Austin Chapter Volleyball, have a wonderful Father’s Day!

Mandatory Returning Member Training

All returning members are required to attend either the Thursday, June 8 training at Travis High School (7:00 p.m.) OR the Saturday, July 15 training at Brentwood Christian (1:30 p.m.). Please be sure to choose one by accepting/declining the Arbiter event sent to you. This will help the ACV Trainers to plan accordingly. Please contact your at-large representative if you have any questions about this training.

Message from Assigning Secretary: Check Arbiter and Reminder about Availability Deadline on June 15

Please remember to enter your availability on Arbiter as well as submit the availability form to the Assigning Secretary. The deadline to do both is Thursday, June 15. The availability form can be found on Arbiter under the Forms section. All officials need to go into Arbiter and input their information. Please be sure to select the ready button on the left-hand side on the profile page. In addition, all officials should start checking Arbiter regularly especially now that the season is getting closer. Important information will continue to be posted on Arbiter. Please contact Janiece Nelson at jnelsonofhutto@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Information on TASO Registration for State Meeting and Regional Clinics

Please note that all officials are required by TASO to attend either the State Meeting, a Regional Clinic, or take the on-line clinic. Information about the on-line clinic is still not available. Registration is now open for the State Meeting, scheduled to be held at The Woodlands. Please visit http://taso.org/sports/volleyball to register. Registration for the Austin Regional Clinic is now open as well. Please visit http://taso.org/event/volleyball/jul-15- 2017-volleyball- 2017---austin-regional- clinic to register.

Next ACV Board Meeting on June 20

The next ACV board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the IHOP restaurant, located at the corner of IH35 and Slaughter Lane. All board meetings are open to members. Please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending.

To all of the ladies of Austin Chapter Volleyball, have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Request from ACV Website Manager

The ACV Website Manager, Ian Evins, is requesting feedback about the ACV website. He simply wants to know what worked and what did not work for members during the season. If you encounter any issues trying to access forms/documents, please email coachianevins@gmail.com to let him know.

Calendar

The 2017 ACV Calendar is now available on the Austin Volleyball Officials website. Please plan accordingly to attend the mandatory meetings and training. Special Note: One location has been recently changed. The returning members training scheduled on July 15 will be held at Brentwood. The website should be updated soon.

Off-Season ACV Test for Returning Members Only (not to be confused with the TASO Test)

The ACV test is now available. Officials have until Wednesday, May 31 to complete the test. The test is located on the TASO website at taso.org. After you log in, you will see the test under TASO Tests, directly under MY TASO MESSAGES. It is based on last season’s rule book and case book. You will have only three (3) chances to complete the test. The goal is to score 100. If you are unable to do so in three chances, then please provide to your at-large representative the correct answer to the questions missed and where in the rule book/case book you were able to find the answer. Please contact your at-large representative if you have any questions about the test.

Volunteers Needed by June 1 for TGCA All-State at Delco Center

We are still in need of line judge volunteers and ball shagger volunteers for the two all-star matches on Tuesday, July 11 and Wednesday, July 12. Each match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. at the Delco Center, located at 4601 Pecan Brook Drive (corner of Springdale and 183). Please contact David Plaisance at drp2nd@hotmail.com to volunteer. All selected should be available to be on-site by 6:30 p.m. The deadline to volunteer is June 1 st so we can get your names listed in the event program. All, including new members, are eligible to participate.

Availability Deadline Set for June 15

Please remember to enter your availability on Arbiter as well as submit the availability form to the Assigning Secretary. The deadline to do both is Thursday, June 15. The availability form can be found on Arbiter under the Forms section. All officials need to go into Arbiter and input their information. Please be sure to select the ready button on the left-hand side on the profile page. Please contact Janiece Nelson at jnelsonofhutto@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Raising Referee Rank through Evaluations

Evaluations are being conducted at various summer leagues. This is a great opportunity to raise referee rank before the season begins. Please contact the ACV Trainers, Harvey Madrigal, and Christle Miersma, to schedule an evaluation.

New Member Orientation Scheduled for May 20

One more orientation session is scheduled for Saturday, May 20 at the Hampton Inn in Buda. The orientation starts at 10:00 a.m. If you know of anyone who is interested in joining ACV, please pass along this information and convey the importance of attending this orientation.

Information on TASO Registration for State Meeting and District Clinics

Online registration for the State Meeting to be held on July 7 &amp; 8 in The Woodlands, Texas is now available. The fee is $35. Please see the recent TASO email for more information. Most of the meeting that pertains to all members will actually only be on Saturday, July 8. We expect TASO to open online registration for the five District clinics very soon. Online registration for those will also be $35. The walk up fee is $45 if you miss the online registration deadline, which is typically two days before the clinic. Information about how to register for, and take the online clinic, will be made available later this summer.

Next ACV Board Meeting on May 17

The next ACV board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the ASC North in Cedar Park. All board meetings are open to members. Please contact your at-large representative if you are interested in attending.